PGS Principles

The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Principles are a set of four principles that guide the implementation of PGS. The principles are:

• Participatory: PGS is a participatory system, meaning that all stakeholders, including farmers, consumers, and other interested parties, are involved in the development, implementation, and monitoring of the system.
• Transparency: PGS is a transparent system, meaning that all information about the system is publicly available.
• Accountability: PGS is an accountable system, meaning that all stakeholders are responsible for the success of the system.
• Learning: PGS is a learning system, meaning that all stakeholders are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

The PGS Principles are important because they ensure that PGS is a fair, equitable, and sustainable system. The principles also help to ensure that PGS is effective in promoting organic agriculture.

Here are some examples of how the PGS Principles can be applied in practice:

• Participatory: Farmers, consumers, and other interested parties can participate in the development of the PGS by attending meetings, providing feedback on draft standards, and serving on PGS committees.
• Transparency: PGS standards, procedures, and meeting minutes should be publicly available. PGS groups can also use websites and social media to communicate with stakeholders.
• Accountability: PGS groups should be accountable to their members and to the public. This can be done by holding regular meetings, reporting on progress, and submitting to external audits.
• Learning: PGS groups should be committed to continuous learning and improvement. This can be done by attending PGS training workshops, sharing information with other PGS groups, and conducting research.

The PGS Principles are essential for the successful implementation of PGS. By adhering to the principles, PGS groups can ensure that they are fair, equitable, sustainable, and effective in promoting organic agriculture.